Joel Embiid Called the Celtics ‘The Best Team in the League’ and Sounded Utterly Defeated

The 76ers looked poised to take the top spot in the NBA’s Eastern Conference standings Wednesday night against the Celtics. Philadelphia was playing at home, while Boston was missing two key pieces from its lineup with guard Jaylen Brown and forward Kristaps Porzingis.

However, the Sixers were playing the second of back-to-back games, coming off a 132–126 loss to the Pacers. That may have been the difference in the Celtics’ 117-107 win, carried by Jayson Tatum’s 29 points and 27 from Derrick White.

After the game, Sixers star Joel Embiid didn’t cite the schedule as an excuse for their loss. But he did say something about the Celtics that raised some eyebrows.

“We’re professional athletes, That’s the schedule; you just gotta do it,” said Embiid. “But yeah, tough. Especially playing Indiana twice and then on a back-to-back, playing the best team in the league, it’s tough. But no excuses.”

Joel Embiid calls the Celtics the best team in the league 👀👀👀#DifferentHere pic.twitter.com/O1vgGuqlqG
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) November 16, 2023

Fans and media quickly seized on Embiid calling Boston “the best team in the league,” pointing to the remarks he made four years ago about the Sixers not being a rival to the Celtics because Boston always wins. (However, Philadelphia did beat the Celtics earlier this season, 106–103.)

Social media also praised Celtics center Al Horford for playing such tough defense against the NBA MVP. Embiid’s 20 points were his lowest total of the season thus far.

Joel Embiid was a -25 tonight in a game the Sixers lose by 10.

It's just the 6th time in 406 NBA games he's been a -25 or worse.

Three of the six?

Against Boston.
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) November 16, 2023

Tonight was just the 2nd time in the 2023 calendar year that Joel Embiid was held to 20 points or fewer. The only other instance was when a calf strain limited him to 16 minutes on 3/22/23 in Chicago.

Only calf strains and Al Horford can stop him. pic.twitter.com/ZTJc6hZrI6
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) November 16, 2023

Talent wins out a lot, so Joel Embiid still gets his. But no one defends him better than Al Horford does.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) November 16, 2023

Al Horford has been incredible tonight. Incredible. He has impacted this game more than Joel Embiid has, and in five fewer minutes of action.
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) November 16, 2023

Embiid’s 20 points were his lowest total of the season thus far. Meanwhile, Horford hit a decisive three-pointer with 2:32 remaining in the game to give Boston a 110–102 lead.